Berhampur: High-density polyethylene pipes worth lakhs of rupees of the Dholapita Mega Lift Irrigation Project gutted in fire at Bhanjanagar sub-division in Tarasing police station limits on Thursday. Police suspect a foul play in it.

"These pipes were lying openly on road. We were planning to irrigate 1500 hectares in Gallery area by transporting water through 114-km-long underground pipeline from a dug well near Badanadi river. Out of 114km, we could complete work on only four kilometres since September last. The pipes to be laid on 110-km was lying at Dholapita," said assistant engineer of Dholapita Mega Lift Irrigation Project Rabindra Nahak.

Fire brigade staff rushed to the spot from Bhanjanagar with two fire tenders and extinguished the fire after an six-hour-long fight around 3pm when the entire stock of the pipes were destroyed.

High-density polyethylene pipes are specially manufactured electrical conduits made from graded materials. These materials are the most appropriate replacement to galvanised iron pipes. The polyethylene pipes are about six to eight times lighter than the iron pipes and are easier to carry.

Nahak has lodged an FIR at Tarasing police station on Thursday evening. He said that he had an altercation with a local contractor few days ago. "But I would like to believe that he is not involved in the criminal act," he said.

Tarasing police station inspector in-charge P. Sagar, however, suspected that somebody had set the pipes on fire with a malicious intention.